INFORMATION FROM THE EPO
Notice from the European Patent Office dated 15 August 2006 concerning the inspection of files and online consultation of the European Patent Register
In a further development to its epoline® range, the EPO has consolidated its patent information services by combining electronic file inspection and the European Patent Register to give online access to its store of patent information via a single service known as Register Plus.
Users wishing to inspect the files of published European patent applications or consult the Register online can access Register Plus under
http://www.epoline.org/portal/public/registerplus
In addition, Register Plus also offers a direct link to esp@cenet® and access to the EPO's Open Patent Services (patent family and INPADOC legal status data).
1. Online file inspection via Register Plus
1.1 Register Plus provides direct access to the files of all published European patent applications and patents stored in electronic form.
1.2 If inspection is requested of a file not yet stored in electronic form, as a rule the file will be made available online within ten working days of entry of the application or publication number, unless it has already been destroyed (Rule 95a (4) and (5) EPC). This does not apply to files for which oral proceedings are imminent or have recently taken place. Entering a valid application or publication number is equivalent to requesting a file inspection. There is no need for a separate written request.
1.3 With the advent of free online file inspection, as a rule it is no longer possible to inspect the paper files on EPO premises.
1.4 Online file inspection is available from 08.00 to 18.00 hrs CET.
2. File inspection on paper copies
2.1 If file inspection on paper copies is requested, an administrative fee of EUR 35 is payable in advance. As a rule, if more than 100 pages have to be produced, the EPO provides an electronic storage medium holding a copy of the file. If paper copies are expressly requested instead, the EPO charges an additional EUR 0.35 for each page in excess of 100. The invoice for the additional charge is sent together with the file inspection documents.
2.2 Users should note that it normally takes at least four weeks for the requested electronic storage media or paper copies to be made available.
3. Online access to the European Patent Register
3.1 Users of Register Plus can access the procedural data on European applications and patents, as well as the data on all PCT applications designating the EPO.
3.2 Register Plus contains data on all published European applications and international applications designating the EPO. As well as this bibliographic data, it also provides information about the grant procedure and the legal status of individual applications, from the date of publication to the grant of the patent, and about any opposition or appeal proceedings. In addition to the data entered in the European Patent Register (Article 127, Rule 92 EPC), Register Plus also includes application and procedural data previously also accessible by way of the Online European Patent Register. Any data which are not part of the European Patent Register are not published in the European Patent Bulletin under Article 129(a) EPC.
3.3 The Online Register is normally available 24 hours a day, except for a short break between 05.00 and 05.10 hrs CET to refresh the data.
4. Access to patent family and INPADOC data
Register Plus also offers users direct access to INPADOC and patent family data. These too are available around the clock except for brief updating breaks (05.00 to 06.00 hrs CET).
5. Monitoring the European Patent Register (WebRegMT)
Users of the WebRegMT service (OJ EPO 2004, 62) who elect to receive e-mail alerts of changes in the European Patent Register are now (since 14 August 2006) diverted automatically to Register Plus by the links in the e-mails.
6. Costs and access
Register Plus is a free, public service.
7. Enquiries about Register Plus
These are answered by EPO Procedural and Technical Support. Contact details:
European Patent Office
Patentlaan 2
NL-2288 EE Rijswijk
Tel.: +3170 340 4500
Fax: +3170 340 4600
e-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.epoline.org
EPO Procedural and Technical Support is available from Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 18.00 hrs CET.
8. Previous notices superseded
With effect from 5 September 2006, the EPO's notices dated 28 May 2001 about internet access to the Online European Patent Register (OJ EPO 2001, 249) and dated 6 June 2003 concerning the inspection of files (OJ EPO 2003, 373) are superseded.